Improvement in skates



P. C. FRANKE.

Skates.

No. 206,170. Patented July 23,1878.

.PETERS. PHOTD-LITMOGRAPNER. wASmNGfom u Cv UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PHILLIP C. FRANKE, 0F ST. PAUL, MINNESOTA.

IMPROVEM ENT IN SKATES.

Specification forming part oiLcttcrs Patent No. 206,170, dated July Q3, 1878,- npplication filed March 22, 1878.

To all fwhom it may concern:

Be it known that I, PHILLIP CHRISTIAN FRANKE, of St. Paul, iu the county of Ramsey and State ot' Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Skates, which are fully set forth in the following specification and accompanying drawing, in which- Figure l is a perspective view. Fig. 2 is a plan view, with the ankle and leg clamps removed. Fig. 3 is a side elevation.

This invention relates to that class of skates which are secured to the foot of the wearer by clamps, and without the use of straps; andI consists in a single longitudinal rod actuated by a lever, whereby the toe and heel clamps are both set at once by one movement of the lever, as hereinafter specified.

The invention further consists in the arrangement of the clamps and lever, whereby the skate may be adapted to auysized foot, as hereinafter shown.

The invention further consists in an adjustable ankle and leg clamp, whereby weak ankles may be strengthened and protected, as hereinafter specified.

A is the runner, B the toe-plate, and C the heel-plate, all arranged in the usual manner.

D is a rod or bar, running in a guide, a., beneath the toe-plate, and extending backward a short distance beneath the heel-plate, as shown.

b is a collar, surrounding the bar D near thc rear of the toe-plate, and provided with a setscrew, c, with its lower end pointed and adapted to t into countersunk indentations d in the bar D, by which the collar may be securely held at any desired point upon the bar.

E is a slotted lever, pivoted at e to the lefthand rear corner of the toe-plate, the slot e therein fitting over the screw o, as shown. By this means the slot e', acting upon thecollar b, serves to slide the bar D back and forth beneath the toe and heel plates.

F F are two levers, having clamps g g upon their outer ends to clasp the sole of the boot of the wearer, and, passing inward beneath the toe-plate over guides h lt', are pivoted to the end of the rod D, as shown in Figs.

2 and 3. These levers F F', byrunning through the guides hh', are held in one position at the outer edges of the toe-plate.

It will be readily seen that by the Inovement of the bar D, through the action of the lever E, the clamps g g will be drawn inward, and thus clasp the toe of the boot of the wearer, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 2.

The inner ends of the levers F F and the forward end of the bar D will be provided with a number of holes, so that the pin holding them together may be set in any pair of thc holes, and thus adjust the levers for different widths of boots.

G is a heel-clamp, consisting of a dog, 7:, which rests against the front of the heel, and a collar, k', surrounding the bar D, and a 1u g, m, provided with a set-screw, m', by which the cla-mp may be secured rigidly to the bar D at any desired point to t the heel of the wearer. The bar D is provided at this point with indentations il', similar to d, in which the pointed end of the set-screw m sits, to prevent slipping.

H is a stationary heel-stop, consisting of two nprights, a nf, having serrations iu their front sides to assist in holding them a-gainst the heel, and a connecting-bar, p p', passing forward around the top of the standard A ot' the runner A, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and riveted to the heel-plate at i'. By this means the heel-stop is made in one piece with the brace for supporting the heel-plate.

J is a supporting-frame, consisting of two standards, t1 t2, pivoted to the upper ends of the stationary heellstop H, and connected together by bars t3 t4.

KK are two metallic pieces, curved to couform to the shape of the heel or ankle, and pivoted to the tops of the standards tl t2 at t5 t. This clamp K K is so made that the rear ends lap by each other, (see Fig. 1,) and are provided with a set-screw, u,with a rounded head, nl, which is tapped through the end of piece K, and passes through a slot in piece K. By running the screw u out or in, the head al may be made to press against the heel of the wearer, when the heel is pressed against it by the clainp G, and thus throw the forward points of the clamp inward, and press them against the ankle as hard as desired. 13) this adjustment; the clamps l( K' may be adapted t0 anysized heel.

u2 is another screw, tapped through the lower connectingbar t. to prevent the frame ll from tipping backward when the clamps (l and g g' are released.

L is a hoop or band, made adjustable by a catch, t', and holes r', (see Figs land 3,) and connected by metallic straps fr u" to the clamps K K. as shown by bent or hooked pins .r .1", so that it may be readiljv removed or attached, the pressure of the clamp upon the ankle keeping it in plaee when in use. This band is used as a leg-support, and will be made high enough to encompass the calf ofthe lef.,v of the wearer.

I am aware that skates made with an actuating-rod. made in two pieces and connected together by a knuckle joint and operated by a slotted lever, are old; but this eonstrnetion l do not claim; but

\Vhat I claim as new. and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. The single longitudinal rod l). actuated by the adjustable slotted lever E t", iu combination with the adjustable clamping-levers 1" 1" g g and toe-plate l of a skate, arranged and operating substantialljV as hereinlwt'ore shown and deserilwd.

2. The single longitudinal rod l), actuated by the adjustable slotted lever E e', in combi nation with the adjustable heel-clamp (l and heel-plate t, arranged and operated substantially as hereinbetore specified.

3. The stationary heel-stop 1I, formed with the connecting-bar 7 p', adapted to straddlo the standard A. and secured in place by a screw. r, substantialbas and t'or the purposes set forth.

4. The adjustable ankle-clamp K K', arranged as described, in combination with the stationary heel-stop ll, substantially as hereinbet'ore set t'orth.

5. The adjustable leg-supportI L, and metal straps 1r u", in combination with the adjustable ankle-clamp l( K and supporting-frame J, arranged and operatin'l substantially as hereinbefore set forth.

1n testimony whereof l havey hereunto set my hand in the presenee ot' two subscribing;- witnesses. 

